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Altera_Forum's avatar
Altera_Forum
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15 years ago

Which device family does replace the Apex20K?

I have VHDL cores written for device from Apex20K family. There is no more support for this family, I didn't find any development board supported this family as well as there is no support in newer Quartus.

So I think the best solution is to migrate to FPGA from another device family, which is similar, or compatible with APEX20K.

Which device family would be the best for it? The cores was written for Altera EP20K100EBC356-3.

Thanks

7 Replies

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Can you please explain what do you mean with :

    --- Quote Start ---

    VHDL cores written for device from Apex20K family

    --- Quote End ---

    Does you VHDL includes low level components only present in Apex and does not compile on another FPGA?

    Do you have particular specification for package and pin placement?

    Did you try if a low cost FPGA (Cyclone) meets your design requirements?
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    According to performance specifications, Cyclone III or IV should work. Why don't you simply try to port your design?

  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    --- Quote Start ---

    I have VHDL cores written for device from Apex20K family. There is no more support for this family, I didn't find any development board supported this family as well as there is no support in newer Quartus.

    So I think the best solution is to migrate to FPGA from another device family, which is similar, or compatible with APEX20K.

    Which device family would be the best for it? The cores was written for Altera EP20K100EBC356-3.

    Thanks

    --- Quote End ---

    Unless you use the Apex's CAM feature or are instantiating LCELLs directly, your core should be pretty portable to most newer families. I would simply pick a device (let's say, an EP3C10), add your code to the project, compile and see what problems Quartus reports.

    Best regards,

    Ben
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    Thank you for your responses, I don't have any development board yet and therefore I wanted to know, which would be good for already created VHDL codes.

    This VHDL codes are from OpenCores projects and I have look at every VHDL code there and it looks there is no specific low end library, no macros, which should not be compatible and there, it seems, it would be not problem with registers and constraints as well. Did I forget on something what should make a problem?

    Thank you
  • Altera_Forum's avatar
    Altera_Forum
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    I suggest not to buy a board for the moment.

    Download QuartusII and ModelSim-Altera and start designing your circuit.

    In this way you'll understand which FPGA you need.

    After, you can decide wich development board you've to buy.